Big Ben torches Bucs for 353 yards

T AMPA , FLA . » Ben Roethlisberger threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 3027 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.

Capping a tumultuous week in which star receiver Antonio Brown made headlines by shouting at an assistant coach on the sidelines and getting into a spat on social media, the Steelers (111) built a 20point lead before holding on for their first win.

Vance McDonald scored on a 75yard pass play and finished with four catches for 112 yards. Brown and Ryan Switzer also had firsthalf TD receptions for Pittsburgh, which led 3010 at halftime.

The Steelers’ defense forced four turnovers, including three firsthalf interceptions of Ryan Fitzpatrick, the 35yearold journeyman who threw for 819 yards and eight touchdowns in two victories to begin Tampa Bay’s season.

Fitzpatrick, the only player in NFL history to open a season with consecutive games with over 400 yards passing and four touchdowns, tried his best to create “FitzMagic” again in his third start in place of the suspended Jameis Winston.

He led a long field goal drive in the third quarter, and then tossed fourthquarter TD passes of 4 yards to Chris Godwin and 24 yards to Mike Evans to rally the Bucs (21) within 3027 with 5:43 remaining.

The Bucs got the ball back with just over three minutes left; however, the Steelers forced a punt and Roethlisberger ran out the clock.

Fitzpatrick finished 30 of 50 for 411 yards and three TDs. Roethlisberger was 30 of 38 with one interception, completing nine passes to JuJu SmithSchuster for 116 yards and six to Brown for 50 yards. His onfield chemistry with Brown appeared fine in the first game since Brown responded to a former team employee on social media by suggesting the club trade him if it wants to find out how productive he can be without Roethlisberger.

Fitzpatrick threw interceptions on three consecutive pass attempts during one stretch of the second quarter. The first stopped a promising drive at the Steelers’ 6, and linebacker Bud Dupree returned the last one 10 yards for a touchdown that put the Steelers up 237.

Roethlisberger also turned a fumble into a 27yard TD pass to Brown and moved the Steelers 75 yards in nine plays just before the half to make it 3010 on his 1yard scoring pass to Switzer.

The Steelers played without allpro guard David DeCastro (hand), right tackle Marcus Gilbert (hamstring) and safety Morgan Burnett (groin). Pittsburgh didn’t report any injuries during the game.

The Steelers next host the Ravens on Sunday night.